Hemstitching and cording attachment for sewing-machines



(No Model.),

J. PUSEY.

HEMSTITGHING AND UORDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES.

No. 338,614. Patented Mar. 23, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSHUA PUSEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

HEMSTITCHiNG AND CORDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 338,614, dated March 23, 1886.

Application filed August 27,1885. Serial No. 175,427. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OSHUA Firstl a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hemstitching and Gording Attachments for Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a vertical section (immediately in front of the needle of a sewing-machine) of the device as in actual use. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modification of the invention. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section (similar to Fig. 4) of aslight modification of that shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The object of my invention is to produce a cheap and efficient device by the aid of which hemstitching may be done on sewing -machines, and which is adapted to take the place oftheinterposed strips of paper generally used in machine hemstitching.

The construction and mode of operation of my invent-ion will clearly be understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, l? is a plate having a longitudinal slot, 8, open at one end and closed at the other, and also having upturned flanges f, the distance between which is about equal to the width of the presser-foot 00, Fig. 2, of the sewing-machine with which the device is to be used, plus twice the thickness of the fabric to be hemstitched.

In using the device the lower layer of fabric, a, is laid upon the sewing-inachine plate 6, Fig. 2. The slotted plate P is placed upon this layer with the flanged side up, in such position that the open end of the slot 8 is near to and directly beneath the needle a, said slot being wider than the diameter of the needle. The upper layer, a, of fabric is placed upon the slotted plate and the presser-foot is let down, when it rests upon the layer a between the flanges f, as seen in Fig. 2. The sewing is now proceeded with in the usual manner.

It is obvious that flanges f, practically impinging against the sides of the presser-foot x,

serve to guide and retain the slotted plate in position. As the sewing proceeds, the usual feed-motion (not shown) advances the under layer of cloth, which, by friction, carries with it the said plate, which, also by friction, carries the upper layer of cloth. It is advisable to roughen both the upper and under side of the plate, so as to secure sufficient hold on the cloth. When the plate has advanced until the closed end of slot 8 is reached, or nearly so, itis retracted, and the operation is repeated as often as may be necessary. When the stitching is finished, the plate is drawn back and out, entirely free from the line of stitching. The particular construction of this plate which I prefer, as producing a rigid and cheaply-made article, is to run a strip of sheet metal between dies or rollers, which will impart to the strip the form in cross-section similar to one side or longitudinal half of the latter. The two sides or halves are joined together at one end in a manner to leave a space between them, which constitutes the slot 8. This may be done by interposing a piece of metal, (I, of suitable width between the two strips at and near one end, the latter and the piece of metal being soldered or otherwise fastened firmly together. In this way long strips of the proper form may be made and cut up into suitable lengths and joined together in the manner just mentioned.

In order to prevent the possibility of the point of the needle striking against the piece d when it has reached the closed end of the slot, I providea stop or projection, Z, which, coming into contact with the toe of the presserfoot just before the end of the slot is reached, prevents the needle from striking by arresting the forward movement of the plate. I also sometimes provide this projection with an aperture, g, in line with slot 8, to serve as a guide or holder for a cord which may be entered into said slot and sewed in with the layers of fabric-that is, inserted in the seam thereof-according to a method for which I have filed an application for Letters Patent, the serial number of which application is 17 5,426.

I have sometimes made the device from a strip of wood, the slot 8 and flanges f being made by a suitable cutter or cutters.

It will be observed that by the slotted plate only onewidth of hemstitching (that is, width between the sides of the fabric when stretched out in the usual manner) can be made, 211- though it will be obvious that by securing an auxiliary plate or plates having a slot therein similar to slot 8 to the under side of the plate 1) and in line with the slot therein, a greater width of hemstitching may be made, the same being equal to the combined thickness of the two conjoined plates. In order, however, to conveniently produce several different widths of hemstitching, I sometimes make my device in the form of, so to say, a series of steps, 1?, as seen in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, of different thicknesses progressively. In these figures each of slots 8 corresponds with slot 8 in the plate shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and flanges f in the one correspond with f in the other. Thus the width of the hemstitching will be governed by the particular one of said slotted steps which may be inserted beneath the presserfoot. I also sometimes do away with the flange on one side of my device, as indicated by the cross-section, Fig. 5. In such case it is necessary to hold or press the plate laterally, so that the flange or upward projection f will practically bear or guide against the side of the presser-foot.

A hemstitching attachment consisting of a longitudinally-slotted plate adapted to be interposed between the bed-plate and the presserfoot of a sewing-machine is not new. I therefore do not claim the same, broadly; but

I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent- 1. The described hemstitching attachment for sewing-machines, consisting of a plate pro-- vided with the longitudinal slot and flanges f, adapted to engage with and to be guided by the-side of the presser-foot of a sewing-machine, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In combination with the slotted plate, the projectionl, adapted to impinge against the presser-foot of a sewing-machine under the circumstances mentioned, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In combination with the slotted plate, the projection Z, providedwith the aperture 9, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. A hemstitching attachment consisting of a plate having a series of steps of different thickness, and provided, respectively, with flanges and longitudinal slots, substantially as described, and as shownin Figs. 3, 4, and 5, and for the purpose recited.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afiixed my signature this 26th day of August, A. D.

JOSHUA PUSEY. Witnesses:

ANDREW ZANE, J r., JOHN NOLAN. 

